Workshop WarchiefHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Workshop Warchief is a 5/3 creature with Trample that triggers both when it enters the battlefield and when it dies. Upon entering, it grants you 3 life, and upon death, it leaves behind a 4/4 green Rhino Warrior token. Its Blitz ability allows you to cast it for an alternative cost to give it Haste and an additional card-draw trigger on death, at the cost of sacrificing it at the end of the turn.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When you cast Workshop Warchief for its Blitz cost, it enters the battlefield and its first triggered ability goes on the stack, gaining you 3 life. Because it has Haste from Blitz, it can attack immediately. At the beginning of the next end step, the Blitz sacrifice trigger goes on the stack. When it is sacrificed (or if it dies in combat earlier), two 'dies' abilities trigger simultaneously: one creating a 4/4 Rhino Warrior token and one drawing you a card. You choose the order these are placed on the stack.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception involves copy effects; if a creature enters as a copy of a Warchief that was Blitzed, the copy does not inherit the Haste, the sacrifice requirement, or the draw-on-death trigger. Additionally, remember that the Blitz draw trigger happens regardless of how the creature dies—it doesn't have to be from the end-step sacrifice; it could be from combat damage or a removal spell.

When to Play It

Cast Workshop Warchief for its standard cost of 3GG when you need a permanent blocker and a way to gain life against aggressive decks. Use the Blitz cost of 4GG when you need immediate damage or need to dig through your deck, as you will effectively replace the card in your hand while still getting a 4/4 token and 3 life out of the deal.

Interaction examples

The Ultimate Value Chain

Workshop WarchiefRhino Warrior

You cast Workshop Warchief for its Blitz cost. It enters, you gain 3 life. You attack for 5 Trample damage. In the end step, you sacrifice it. You now create a 4/4 Rhino Warrior token and draw a card, leaving your board presence strong even after the original creature is gone.

Doubling the Horns

Workshop WarchiefRoaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Rhino', Workshop Warchief's abilities trigger an additional time. When it enters, you gain 6 life instead of 3. When it dies, you create two 4/4 Rhino Warrior tokens. If it was Blitzed, you would also draw two cards instead of one.

Death Trigger Synergy

Workshop WarchiefSolemn Simulacrum

If a board wipe occurs while both are out, you can stack the triggers to your liking. You will draw a card from Solemn Simulacrum and create a 4/4 Rhino Warrior token from Workshop Warchief. Both creatures provide significant insurance against destruction by replacing themselves with new resources.